Guide to the Black Americana Collection MSS.2010.01.15
Stephanie Waslohn
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
© 2011
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Black Americana Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2010.01.15
Physical Description:
3.0 boxes
(4.5 linear feet)
Date (inclusive): 1887-2008 (bulk 1980-2000)
Abstract: The Black Americana Collection is a collection of photographs, printed materials, textiles, and three-dimensional objects
related to the African American experience in northern California, and collected by Ted Sahl, a photo-journalist who practiced
in San Jose.
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has been assigned to San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections & Archives. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Black Americana Collection, MSS-2010-01-15, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed and finding aid encoded in EAD by Stephanie Waslohn. Reviewed by Danelle Moon. Accruals were added to
the collection by Victor Rodriguez II in June 2016.
Theodore (Ted) Sahl is an award-winning local photographer in San José, California. Sahl spent over 30 years documenting social
and political events in the Bay Area through photojournalism. Although best known for his involvement with the Santa Clara
County lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, Sahl photographed other social movements in the
region, including the anti-nuclear demonstrations at the Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory, Cesar Chavez and the Farm
Labor Strikes in the 1970s-1980s, and the African American community in Santa Clara County. A champion of social justice,
Sahl, used photography to document and empower marginalized communities.
The Black Americana Collection is a collection of photographs, printed materials, textiles, and three-dimensional objects.
The formats include historic postcards, news clippings, programs, sheet music, textiles, dolls, and figurines related to the
African American experience. Ted Sahl, photo-journalist and collector, has documented the African American community in San
Jose since the 1970s. The photographic materials include images of celebrities political rallies, and social events in San
Jose, as well as a small photographic album that features African Americans living in Santa Cruz during the 1950s. The historic
post-card collection illustrates the racists attitudes during the era of Jim Crow. This eclectic collection of black Americana
documents the struggles, achievements, and contributions of the African American community in American society and culture.
This collection is arranged into three series: Series I. Photographic Materials; Series II. Printed Materials; and Series
III. Textiles and Three-dimensional Objects.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Racism in popular culture -- United States.
African Americans in popular culture.
African Americans -- Collectibles.
African Americans -- Race identity.
Box 1
Series I. Photographic Materials 1910-2008
Series Scope and Content Summary
The material in this series consist of photographs focused on the African American experience. Included are photographs of
African American subjects and political rallies taken by Ted Sahl, as well as a small photographic album that features African
Americans living in Santa Cruz during the 1950s, and miscellaneous photographs taken by others. Sahl photographed African
American schools, churches, community celebrations, and famous celebrities. Other photographs include political events such
as the SJSU African American Faculty and Staff Association political marches and outreach events.
This box contains one folder of miscellaneous photographs and three binders. Sahl's original albums have been rehoused in
archival binders. The first album is of African Americans in Santa Cruz, which Sahl purchased from a local antique shop. The
title of the album is "Jessie May" and dates between 1940-1950. The second album is dated March 13, 2007, and includes newspaper
articles on black gay veterans and the United States military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Clay Wilson, a Korean War
veteran, is featured in the article, and there are photographos of Marie Johnson Calloway, a local African American artist.
The third album documents SJSU African American faculty and the student association protest for equal opportunity in higher
education. It also includes images taken by Sahl of the Cesar Chavez monument opening ceremony on Sept. 4, 2008 at SJSU, and
images of celebrities such as Angela Davis, Tom Bradley (former mayor of Los Angeles), Reverend Jessie Jackson, Bishop Tutu,
Willie Brown, and OJ and Nicole Simpson.
Files are arranged alphabetically by format.
Box 2
Series II. Printed Materials 1889-2008
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of magazines, postcards, newsclippings, printed fans, programs, pamphlets, marketing images, postcard
books, and information cards dating from 1915 to 2002. A wide variety of attitudes towards African Americans throughout the
twentieth century is represented within this series including Jim Crow-era postcards and materials that celebrate the contributions
of African American artists, writers and politicians in American society. A small collection of sheet music is included in
this series varying from "negro spirituals" to "minstrel music" and tunes made popular by African American singers such as
Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. Other notable materials include original "Coon Chicken" advertisements, a small collection
of paper advertising fans depicting African Americans. Examples include a fan of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a "Darkie
Toothpaste" advertisement fan.
This series is loosely arranged by format.
Box 3
Series III. Textiles and Three-dimensional Objects 1887-2000